International Center for Technology Assessment
Encyclopedia
The International Center for Technology Assessment (ICTA) is a U.S. non-profit bi-partisan organization, based in Washington, D.C.
. ICTA aims to provide the public with full assessments and analyses of technological impacts on society. ICTA explores the economic, ethical, social, environmental and political impacts that can result from the applications of technology or technological systems.
through its Nanotechnology Project NanoAction. The implications of nanotechnology
run the gamut from the medical
, ethical, mental, legal and environmental applications, to fields such as engineering, biology, chemistry, computing, materials science, military applications, and communications.
The Bush administration in 2007 decided that no special regulations or labeling of nanoparticles are required. This decision struck many familiar with the issue as inexplicable and a sign of the influence of corporations over individuals. "The consumer is being made the guinea pig", said George Kimbrell of the International Center for Technology Assessment.
In January 2008, a coalition of over 40 civil society
groups endorsed a statement of principles calling for precautionary action
related to nanotechnology. The coalition called for strong, comprehensive oversight of the new technology and its products in the International Center for Technology Assessment's report Principles for the Oversight of Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials.
Research in this area as conducted by ICTA has contributed significantly to public awareness of the potential drawbacks of this new technology.
ICTA is also concerned about some of the developments that are taking place in the area of human biotechnology
. ICTA warns that "a new eugenics age has begun". In particular, this refers to highly profit-driven areas of biotechnology such as genetic engineering
, genetic screening, and cloning
.
ICTA also does a lot of work in the areas of corporate accountability and economics, trying to ensure the observance of ethical principles as part of business practices. Thus, ICTA is a founding member of the Center for Corporate Policy that works actively in these areas.
ICTA contributes strongly to the areas of global warming
and the environment. In particular, they are concerned about the modern threat to the environment of "biological pollution", such as the invasive species
. Also, the introduction of genetically modified plants and animals is of concern. Crops engineered to produce pharmaceuticals (Pharming)
, or resist herbicides may well spread genetic pollution
by cross-pollinating with weeds or other crops, and ICTA is actively addressing these issues.
.
In 2004, ICTA took an active part in Monsanto Canada Inc. v. Schmeiser
, a leading Supreme Court of Canada case on patent rights for biotechnology. The case involved Percy Schmeiser
, a Saskatchewan canola farmer. Intervening on Schmeiser’s behalf were a consortium of six non-government organizations, among which was the International Center for Technology Assessment.
In 2006, Friends of the Earth
and ICTA filed a formal petition with the Food and Drug Administration
for better monitoring and regulating of cosmetic and toiletry products containing harmful
nanoparticles and stated they would sue if the FDA does not take adequate action in 180 days.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. ICTA aims to provide the public with full assessments and analyses of technological impacts on society. ICTA explores the economic, ethical, social, environmental and political impacts that can result from the applications of technology or technological systems.
Objectives of the Center
ICTA seeks to assist the public and policy makers in better understanding how technology affects society.Nanotechnology
ICTA works towards adequate oversight of nanotechnologyNanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
through its Nanotechnology Project NanoAction. The implications of nanotechnology
Implications of nanotechnology
The impact of nanotechnology extend from its medical, ethical, mental, legal and environmental applications, to fields such as engineering, biology, chemistry, computing, materials science, military applications, and communications....
run the gamut from the medical
Nanomedicine
Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology. Nanomedicine ranges from the medical applications of nanomaterials, to nanoelectronic biosensors, and even possible future applications of molecular nanotechnology. Current problems for nanomedicine involve understanding the issues related...
, ethical, mental, legal and environmental applications, to fields such as engineering, biology, chemistry, computing, materials science, military applications, and communications.
The Bush administration in 2007 decided that no special regulations or labeling of nanoparticles are required. This decision struck many familiar with the issue as inexplicable and a sign of the influence of corporations over individuals. "The consumer is being made the guinea pig", said George Kimbrell of the International Center for Technology Assessment.
In January 2008, a coalition of over 40 civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
groups endorsed a statement of principles calling for precautionary action
Precautionary principle
The precautionary principle or precautionary approach states that if an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of scientific consensus that the action or policy is harmful, the burden of proof that it is not harmful falls on those...
related to nanotechnology. The coalition called for strong, comprehensive oversight of the new technology and its products in the International Center for Technology Assessment's report Principles for the Oversight of Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials.
Research in this area as conducted by ICTA has contributed significantly to public awareness of the potential drawbacks of this new technology.
Other projects
Among the projects that ICTA is working upon are Patent Watch, an effort to ensure that the government grants patents based on ethical and public interest concerns. According to ICTA, quite often, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office grants patents on hazardous, unethical, or inhumane technologies - some of which should not have been granted.ICTA is also concerned about some of the developments that are taking place in the area of human biotechnology
Transhumanism
Transhumanism, often abbreviated as H+ or h+, is an international intellectual and cultural movement that affirms the possibility and desirability of fundamentally transforming the human condition by developing and making widely available technologies to eliminate aging and to greatly enhance human...
. ICTA warns that "a new eugenics age has begun". In particular, this refers to highly profit-driven areas of biotechnology such as genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
, genetic screening, and cloning
Cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
.
ICTA also does a lot of work in the areas of corporate accountability and economics, trying to ensure the observance of ethical principles as part of business practices. Thus, ICTA is a founding member of the Center for Corporate Policy that works actively in these areas.
ICTA contributes strongly to the areas of global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
and the environment. In particular, they are concerned about the modern threat to the environment of "biological pollution", such as the invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
. Also, the introduction of genetically modified plants and animals is of concern. Crops engineered to produce pharmaceuticals (Pharming)
Pharming (genetics)
Pharming is a portmanteau of farming and "pharmaceutical" and refers to the use of genetic engineering to insert genes that code for useful pharmaceuticals into host animals or plants that would otherwise not express those genes. As a consequence, the host animals or plants then make the...
, or resist herbicides may well spread genetic pollution
Genetic pollution
Genetic pollution is a controversial term for uncontrolled gene flow into wild populations. This gene flow is undesirable according to some environmentalists and conservationists, including groups such as Greenpeace, TRAFFIC, and GeneWatch UK.-Usage:...
by cross-pollinating with weeds or other crops, and ICTA is actively addressing these issues.
History
ICTA was formed in 1994. Its executive director is a long time consumer advocate, public interest attorney, environmental activist, and author Andrew Kimbrell. Its sister organization is the Center for Food SafetyCenter for Food Safety
The Center for Food Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization, based in Washington, D.C., that also maintains an office in San Francisco, CA...
.
In 2004, ICTA took an active part in Monsanto Canada Inc. v. Schmeiser
Monsanto Canada Inc. v. Schmeiser
Monsanto Canada Inc. v. Schmeiser [2004] 1 S.C.R. 902, 2004 SCC 34 is a leading Supreme Court of Canada case on patent rights for biotechnology. The court heard the question of whether growing genetically modified plants constitutes "use" of the patented invention of genetically modified plant...
, a leading Supreme Court of Canada case on patent rights for biotechnology. The case involved Percy Schmeiser
Percy Schmeiser
Percy Schmeiser is a farmer from Bruno, Saskatchewan, Canada. He specializes in breeding and growing canola. He became an international symbol and spokesperson for independent farmers' rights and the regulation of transgenic crops during his protracted legal battle with agrichemical company...
, a Saskatchewan canola farmer. Intervening on Schmeiser’s behalf were a consortium of six non-government organizations, among which was the International Center for Technology Assessment.
In 2006, Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
and ICTA filed a formal petition with the Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
for better monitoring and regulating of cosmetic and toiletry products containing harmful
Nanotoxicology
Nanotoxicology is the study of the toxicity of nanomaterials. Because of quantum size effects and large surface area to volume ratio, nanomaterials have unique properties compared with their larger counterparts....
nanoparticles and stated they would sue if the FDA does not take adequate action in 180 days.
See also
- Implications of nanotechnologyImplications of nanotechnologyThe impact of nanotechnology extend from its medical, ethical, mental, legal and environmental applications, to fields such as engineering, biology, chemistry, computing, materials science, military applications, and communications....
- NanotoxicologyNanotoxicologyNanotoxicology is the study of the toxicity of nanomaterials. Because of quantum size effects and large surface area to volume ratio, nanomaterials have unique properties compared with their larger counterparts....
- Regulation of nanotechnologyRegulation of nanotechnologyBecause of the ongoing controversy on the implications of nanotechnology, there is significant debate concerning whether nanotechnology or nanotechnology-based products merit special government regulation...
- Environmental implications of nanotechnologyEnvironmental implications of nanotechnologyThe environmental impact of nanotechnology are the possible effects that the use of nanotechnological materials and devices will have on the environment...
- Health implications of nanotechnologyHealth implications of nanotechnologyThe health impact of nanotechnology are the possible effects that the use of nanotechnological materials and devices will have on human health. As nanotechnology is an emerging field, there is great debate regarding to what extent nanotechnology will benefit or pose risks for human health...
- Genetically modified food controversiesGenetically modified food controversiesThe genetically modified foods controversy is a dispute over the relative advantages and disadvantages of genetically modified food crops and other uses of genetically-modified organisms in food production. The dispute involves biotechnology companies, governmental regulators, non-governmental...
- Polly the sheep
- Institute on Biotechnology and the Human FutureInstitute on Biotechnology and the Human FutureThe Institute on Biotechnology and the Human Future is an affiliate of the Illinois Institute of Technology and is housed at IIT’s Chicago-Kent College of Law. The IBHF was founded in 2004 by Lori Andrews, J.D., and Nigel M. de S...
External Links
- International Center For Technology Assessment
- Dust-Up: The Great Nanotech Debate, Op-Ed series, Los Angeles Times, (Feb 25-29, 2008).
- Center for Corporate Policy
- Military Nanotechnology Applications
- ASU's Center on Nanotechnology and Society
- UCSB's Center on Nanotechnology and Society
- The Nanoethics Group
- Center for Responsible Nanotechnology
- The NanoEthicsBank